Therapeutic pool

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic pool comprised of a one-piece fiberglass molding in the shape of a tub-like structure. Adjacent arcuate portions of the side walls of the tub-like structure are curved horizontally inwardly at different levels to provide seats at different heights within the structure. A wide ledge which extends circumferentially about the circular upper end of the tub-like structure is provided with a filler of resilient material on the under surface thereof. The tub-like structure is capable of being readily installed within an excavation with its ledge extending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation and seated thereagainst by the filler of resilient material. Agitation of water in the pool is accomplished either by drawing air into the inflowing stream as it is supplied in the pool or by actually forcing air under pressure into the stream.

United States Patent Schindler et a1.

[ THERAPEUTIC POOL [72] Inventors: Ted Schindler, 6510 Mount RainierDrive, Bakersfield, Calif. 93309; Henry Dumler, 1019 S. 11" St.,Bakersfield, Calif. 93304 [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:83,297

[52] US. Cl ..4/l72.l7, 52/169 [51] Int. Cl ..E04h 3/16, EO4h 3/18 [58]Field o1Search...4/l72, 172.15, 172.17, 172.19,

[ 51 Sept. 26, 1972 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson AssistantExaminer-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Beehler, Arant & Jagger 5 7 ABSTRACT Atherapeutic pool comprised of a one-piece fiberglass molding in theshape of a tub-like structure. Adjacent arcuate portions of the sidewalls of the tub-like structure are curved horizontally inwardly atdifferent levels to provide seats at different heights within thestructure. A wide ledge which extends circumferentially about thecircular upper end of the tub-like structure is provided with a fillerof resilient material on the under surface thereof. The tub-likestructure is capable of being readily installed within an excavationwith its ledge extending over the: ground level edge surface of theexcavation and seated thereagainst by the filler of resilient material.Agitation of water in the pool is accomplished either by drawing airinto the inflowing stream as it is supplied in the pool or by actuallyforcing air under pressure into the stream.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures THERAPEUTIC POOL This invention relates totherapeutic pool structures and more particularly to a novelconstruction for such a pool structure.

The provision of jets of aerated water in pools or tanks for relaxingand curative purposesis well known in the art. However, only limited useof such pools have heretofore been made by the individual home owner,for example, because of the high cost of the construction andinstallation of such types of pools. It is, therefore, highly desirableto provide a small, therapeutic pool or tank structure which can befabricated at low cost and can be easily and inexpensively installed foruse at ground level in any site that would be suitable for such a pool.As an example, the pool structure of the present invention could beideally installed in an excavation provided on or near the deckingadjacentto a swimming pool, as provided in the yard of a residence, suchthat a person could take advantage of the relaxation provided by thehydrotherapy form of water treat ment available from therapeutic poolswhile enjoying the activities associated with the use of a swimmingpool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides afiberglass molding in the form of a tub-like structure which isespecially shaped for use as a therapeutic pool and especially adaptedfor easy installation in an excavation at ground level. The moldingforming the tub-like structure comprises a circular upper end that isprovided with an integrally formed, wide, circumferential supportingledge, and a body or tank depending therefrom. The side walls formingthe body have adjacent arcuate portions thereof curvedhorizontally'inwardly at different levels to provide seats of differentheights within the tub-like structure. An aerated water jet systemcomprised of a plurality of spaced jet-forming means is arranged aboutthe upper end of the body for directing jets of aerated water into thepool structure. The ledge is provided with a filler of resilientmaterial disposed on the under side thereof whereby the tub-likestructure is able to be positioned within an excavation with the ledgeextending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation andseated thereagainst by the filler of resilient material.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide alow-cost, easily installed, small, therapeutic pool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an integrally formedfiberglass tub-like molded structure especially shaped for use as atherapeutic pool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic poolstructure that can be readily installed at ground level in an excavationwith a minimum of preparation needed for the seating of the structure inthe excavation.

Still another object of the invention is to'provide a new and improvedmeans for agitating the inflow circulating water by mixing air with thewater as it flows into the pool.

These and other objects, uses and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pool structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2is a vertical sectional view of the pool structure taken alongline 2+-2 of FIG. 1:

I FIGJ3is a vertical sectional view of the pool structure taken alongline 3--3 of FIG. 1;

F1634 is a detailed sectional view. of an aerated water jet inlet takenalong line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the filter unit provided in the airinlet pipe taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is aplan view of a second form of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Like numerals designate like elements throughout the figuresof thedrawings.

As shown in the drawings, the pool structure of the present invention iscomprised of a rigid, one-piece tub-like structure 10 preferably formedof fiberglass molding. The upper end of the tub-like structure 10 iscircularin form with a suitable diameter which in the preferredembodiment of the present invention is on the order of 5 feet. Thetub-like structure is provided with a rather wide circumferential flatledge 11 which extends outwardly and completely surrounds its circularupper end. The body of the tub-like structure is formed with only anarcuate portion 13a of its side wall extending downward to the bottom 19thereof. Adjacent arcuate portions of the side walls forming thetub-like structure curve horizontally inwardly at different levels toform three flat adjacent arcuate seating portionswithin the tubJikestructure. The seating portion 14 is formed by an arcuate portion 13b ofthe side wall curving horizontally inwardly at an upper level, seatingportion 15 is formed by an arcuate portion 13c of the side wall curvinghorizontally inwardly at an intermediatelevel, and seating portion 16 isformed by arcuate portion 13d of the side wall curving horizontallyinwardly at a lower level relative to the bottom 19 of the tub-likestructure 10. The side walls of the structure 10 between the variouslevel horizontal portions are contoured for ease in molding. Thearcuateseating portions are located at different levels about the sides of thepool structure so that an adult or child can comfortably fit in one ofthe arcuate seating portions with his legs extending inwardly so thathis feet rest on the bottom 19 of the central portion of the poolstructure 10.

Associated with the tub-like structure 10 about the upper portionthereof and'below the ledge 11 is an aerated water jet system whichprovides the relaxing and hydrotherapy form of water treatment desiredby the user of the pool. A water inlet to the pool from the pump andheater (not shown) is provided by a water supply pipe 22 which issecured to the outer end of a main header 25. As shown in FIG. 4, anadapter 27 is secured to the inner end of header 25. Adapter 27 isprovided with a central threaded opening for receiving a nozzle 28 onone end thereof and is provided to receive a pool inlet pipe 30 on theother end thereof. The inlet pipe 30 extends through an opening 32 inthe side wall of the tub-like structure 10 and is held against the innersurface thereof by a cap 33 secured to the end of the inlet pipe 30.Header 25 is provided with a plastic pipe 40 which extends verticallyupwardly to connect with an air inlet pipe 41 whose upper end extendsthrough an opening 39 provided in the ledge 11. A cylindrical filterunit 43 comprising a removable wire screen 44 with a fiberglass insert45 (FIG. 5) which serves as a noise suppressor is inserted through airinlet pipe 41 so as to rest on an inner shoulder 42 provided withinplastic pipe 40. A hollow threaded sleeve 46 whose opening 47 controlsthe amount of air drawn into the jet system is screwed into the airinlet pipe 41 as shown in FIG. 1. Two additional headers, 25a and 25b,each preferably spaced at 90 from the main header 25, are provided aboutthe upper portion of the tub-like structure 10. The headers 25a and 25 bare interconnected to the main header 25 by respective circular pipes 37and 38. Each of the headers 25a and 25b is provided with a respectiveair inlet 41, sleeve 46, filter unit 43 and nozzle 28 similar to thatshown in FIG. 4 for the main header 25.

It should be understood that when water from the pump (not shown) is fedinto the supply pipe 22 and into each of the three headers, 25, 25a and25b, it forms a jet in a wellknown manner in passing through respectivenozzles 28 which induces a suction in the headers which draws in airfrom openings 47 in the respective air inlet pipes which mixes with thewater supplied at each of these positions within the header so as toaerate the water being introduced into the pool structure 10. In normaloperation, the water level of the pool structure is above the locationof the jets such that the aerated water is continually flowing into thetublike structure at the three locations below the water level in thepool and directed to each of the three levels of the seating portionsprovided within the pool structure, and then drained out through thedrain pipe 48 located at the center of the bottom of the pool structure.It should be noted that the upper surface of ledge 11 is provided with aslop-over lip 12 which forms a trough which retains water splashed fromthe pool onto the ledge 11 and enables it to drain down into theopenings provided by the air inlet pipe for return past the nozzle 28back into the pool. In order to control the amount of air and waterwhich is introduced into each of the headers 25, 25a and 25b therespective air inlet sleeves 46 and the nozzles 28 are threaded for easein changing them for others with different sized openings to therebyvary the force of the jets directed into the pool such that each willprovide either a gently flowing or vigorously moving stream of water.

It should be particularly noted that in order to enable the poolstructure to be readily installed in a roughly formed excavationconforming only generally to the shape of the body of the tub-likestructure and having a ground level formed of an irregularly shapedsurface, the ledge 11 integrally extending about the tublike structureis formed with an outer rim 18 which curves downwardly and thus holdsthe flat cross sectional area of the ledge 11 to form a spacing aboutthe ground level. A polyform type filler 17 or other resilient materialwhich easily conforms to the irregular shape of the ground level surfaceabout the excavation is provided in the spacing formed between theinside upper surface of the ledge 11 and the ground level. The filler 17preferably extends along the entire circular length of the ledge and mayeither be made of a single piece of material or may be formed insections for ease of handling. The rim 18 of the ledge 11, together withfiller 17, supports the ledge such that its surface is level with thesurface of the concrete decking or other ground level surface as shownin FIG. 4.

A felt type expansion joint v49 may be inserted between the end of rim18 of the ledge and the edge of the concrete 50.

It should be clear from the above that installation of the present poolstructure in an excavation is greatly simplified by the provision of thelarge, circular ledge 11 with the polyfoam type filler 17 which formsits own seat about the periphery of the excavation by filling up anyvoids therein and thus virtually supports the pool structure 10 in theexcavation. Such a supporting arrangement is practical, inasmuch as thefiberglass wall of the tub-like structure 10 is made sufficiently rigidto maintain its shape such'that it does not have to be so fullysupported by the walls of the excavation.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 and 7, a tubstructure indicated generally by the reference character 10' isgenerally similar to the tub structure 10 except for piping for theinflow of water and of air into the tub structure. A supply pipe 50connects with an annular manifold 51 through a modified cross fitting52. Other modified cross fittings 53, 54 and 55 are spaced substantiallyequi-distant around the circumference of the manifold 51, both thesupply pipe 50 and the manifold 51 being located in the ground itself ina position removed from the tub structure. Supply sleeves 56, 57, 58 and59 extend through appropriate holes 60 and an upper wall portion 61 ofthe tub structure thereby to supply water to the tub structure fromwhich it is drawn by a drain line 62 from a drain hole 63.

A second annular manifold 65 of diameter less than the manifold 51 islocated in the ground slightly above manifold 51 but spaced outwardlyrelative to the upper wall portion 61 of the tub structure. A compressor66 draws air through a valve intake 67 and forces it through acompressed air supply 68 to a T 69 in the manifold 65. Modified crossfittings 70, 71, 72 and 73 are spaced equi-distant around the annularmanifold 65 there being one of the modified cross fittings of themanifold 65 corresponding respectively to one of the modified crossfittings of the manifold 51. At each of these locations a short L-shapedpipe section 74 interconnects the two manifolds through the respectivelyadjacent modified cross fittings.

In the form of the invention therefore shown and described in connectionwith FIGS. 6 and 7 water under pressure comes in through the supply pipe50 to supply inflow ports 75, 76, 77 and 78. Additionally air underpressure is passed to the respective modified cross fittings 52, 53, 54and 55 in the manner described and the air under pressure mixes with thewater under pressure in the supply sleeves so that there will be apositive mixture of air and water at each of the inflow ports, a jet ofthe mixture being variable in length depending upon the pressureadjustment of the water in the supply pipe 50 and the air supply pipe68.

While the description has been concerned with a particular structuralembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that many variationsin construction and arrangement may be provided without departing fromthe scope of the invention. The present invention is, therefore, to beconsidered as including all such possible modifications and variationscoming within the What is claimed is:

l. A therapeutic pool structure adaptable for mounting at ground levelwithin an excavation comprising: a tub-like structure formed ofa-molding of rigid material, said tub-like structure including acircular upper portion, an integrally formed wide ledgecircumferentially extending about said circular upper portion, anintegrally formed body depending below said circular upper portion, saidbody having adjacent arcuate portions of the side wall thereof curvedhorizontally inwardly at different levels to provide seats of differentheights within the tub-like structure, and a filler of resilientmaterial disposed on the under side of said ledge, whereby said tub-likestructure is able to be positioned within the excavation with said ledgeextending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation andseated thereagainst by said filler resilient material.

2. The invention as defined in claim '1 wherein said molding is formedof fiberglass.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjacent arcuateportions of the side wall are curved inwardly to form seats within thetub-like structure at an upper level, an intermediate level and a lowerlevel relative to the bottom of said tub-like structure.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 including an aerated water jetsystem comprised of a plurality of jet forming means located in spacedpositions about the circular upper portion of the tub-like structure andextending through the side wall thereof for directing jets of aeratedwater into the tub-like structure at each of said spaced positions.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said jets extend throughthe side wall of said tub-like structure at arcuately spaced positionscorresponding to each of the seats.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said aerated water jetarrangement includes a header member located at each of said spaced jetpositions, a water supply inlet connected to each of said headermembers, an air inlet extending downwardly from spaced openings providedin said ledge and connected to each of said header members, a filtermeans provided in each of said air inlets, and a nozzle member connectedto each of said header members and extending through the side wall ofthe tub-like structure for directing the jets of aerated water into saidpool structure.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said ledge is providedwith a slop-over lip near the edge of the upper surface thereof forforming a trough for collecting water splashed on the ledge which drainsthrough the air inlets provided on said ledge down into said headermembers.

8. A therapeutic pool structure comprising a tub-like structure ofmolded rigid synthetic plastic resin material and including a wallforming a reservoir for water below a selected level and an integrallyformed relatively wide ledge extending circumferentially about an upperedge of said wall, a perimetrical water supply manifold extending undersaid ledge and having a water supply thereto under pressure, a pluralityof perimetricall s aced ttin s in said manifold h vin 'et outlet me nsextend i ng tfirough said wail at a oca i on below said ledge and belowsaid selected level, and an air header for each fitting having one endthereof in communication with the fitting and the other end open to anair supply.

9. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein the other end ofeach of said headers extends through the ledge into communication withthe atmosphere.

[0. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 9 wherein there is a filterin said header between opposite ends thereof.

11. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein there is a secondperimetrical manifold, means supplying air under pressure to said secondperimetrical manifold and a connection from said second perimetricalmanifold to each of said fittings.

12. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein said jet outletmeans comprises a pipe of relatively large inside diameter extendingfrom said fitting through said wall and a nozzle in said pipe adjacentthe junction of said pipe and said fitting, said nozzle having an insidediameter much smaller than the inside diameter of said pipe.

1. A therapeutic pool structure adaptable for mounting at ground levelwithin an excavation comprising: a tub-like structure formed of amolding of rigid material, said tub-like structure including a circularupper portion, an integrally formed wide ledge circumferentiallyextending about said circular upper portion, an integrally formed bodydepending below said circular upper portion, said body having adjacentarcuate portions of the side wall thereof curved horizontally inwardlyat different levels to provide seats of different heights within thetub-like structure, and a filler of resilient material disposed on theunder side of said ledge, whereby said tub-like structure is able to bepositioned within the excavation with said ledge extending over theground level edge surface of the excavation and Seated thereagainst bysaid filler resilient material.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein said molding is formed of fiberglass.
 3. The invention asdefined in claim 2 wherein said adjacent arcuate portions of the sidewall are curved inwardly to form seats within the tub-like structure atan upper level, an intermediate level and a lower level relative to thebottom of said tub-like structure.
 4. The invention as defined in claim2 including an aerated water jet system comprised of a plurality of jetforming means located in spaced positions about the circular upperportion of the tub-like structure and extending through the side wallthereof for directing jets of aerated water into the tub-like structureat each of said spaced positions.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4wherein said jets extend through the side wall of said tub-likestructure at arcuately spaced positions corresponding to each of theseats.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said aerated waterjet arrangement includes a header member located at each of said spacedjet positions, a water supply inlet connected to each of said headermembers, an air inlet extending downwardly from spaced openings providedin said ledge and connected to each of said header members, a filtermeans provided in each of said air inlets, and a nozzle member connectedto each of said header members and extending through the side wall ofthe tub-like structure for directing the jets of aerated water into saidpool structure.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein saidledge is provided with a slop-over lip near the edge of the uppersurface thereof for forming a trough for collecting water splashed onthe ledge which drains through the air inlets provided on said ledgedown into said header members.
 8. A therapeutic pool structurecomprising a tub-like structure of molded rigid synthetic plastic resinmaterial and including a wall forming a reservoir for water below aselected level and an integrally formed relatively wide ledge extendingcircumferentially about an upper edge of said wall, a perimetrical watersupply manifold extending under said ledge and having a water supplythereto under pressure, a plurality of perimetrically spaced fittings insaid manifold having jet outlet means extending through said wall at alocation below said ledge and below said selected level, and an airheader for each fitting having one end thereof in communication with thefitting and the other end open to an air supply.
 9. A therapeutic poolstructure as in claim 8 wherein the other end of each of said headersextends through the ledge into communication with the atmosphere.
 10. Atherapeutic pool structure as in claim 9 wherein there is a filter insaid header between opposite ends thereof.
 11. A therapeutic poolstructure as in claim 8 wherein there is a second perimetrical manifold,means supplying air under pressure to said second perimetrical manifoldand a connection from said second perimetrical manifold to each of saidfittings.
 12. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein saidjet outlet means comprises a pipe of relatively large inside diameterextending from said fitting through said wall and a nozzle in said pipeadjacent the junction of said pipe and said fitting, said nozzle havingan inside diameter much smaller than the inside diameter of said pipe.